Council To Close Loophole In No-animal Rule

February 21, 1985|By Bob Kowalski, Staff Writer

BOCA RATON — Residents have become so crafty at sneaking pets into city parks that some city officials believe they`ll have to either clean up a Boca Raton animal ordinance or start cleaning up the parks.

The problem, they say, is that residents have found a loophole in the city ordinance banning dogs, cats and other pets from public parks and beaches.

That ordinance does not regulate pets in the parking lots within the parks and the word apparently has gotten around.

``People were sneaking their dogs and cats into the park, putting them under blankets in the back,`` said Mickey Gomez, deputy director of the city`s Parks and Recreation Department.

``I saw three dogs this weekend. The gate attendants had no idea they were in the park,`` Gomez said.

Such dogs create not only a safety hazard by chasing children and joggers, but also leave annoying reminders in walkways, said Gordon Gilbert, a member of the city`s Parks and Recreation Board.

``I used to take groups down on the beach all the time. I`ll never forget stepping in feces left by animals,`` he said. ``You still can`t control when they have to use the bathroom. I don`t believe we should have any animals in the park.``

The city attorney`s office has drafted a revision to the animal ordinance that would prohibit pets from parking lots at public beaches and parks.

The new measure, Gomez said, should prevent people from bringing a pet into the park under the guise of leaving it in the parking lot.

Gomez said it also should prevent pet owners from leaving their animals in closed automobiles, which heat up in the sunlight and can be fatal to the pet.

City Manager James Rutherford said the ordinance will have to be revised to include a stipulation allowing special pet events such as dog shows before it is presented to the City Council for approval.